Living hinge snap lock for wire harness protector

ABSTRACT

A wire harness protector comprises a trough having front and rear walls, a bottom wall, and a cover attached to the trough by a living hinge. The front wall of the trough has one or more locking tab sockets with lateral tab-receiving openings. At least one locking tab is connected to the front edge of the cover by a tab living hinge in alignment with the socket on the trough. Guide blocks are provided on the cover to automatically align the cover to the trough and each locking tab with each associated socket when the cover is closed on the trough. Each locking tab can be independently moved on its own living hinge into the front-facing lateral socket opening to independently lock all of the tabs on the cover in their sockets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to wire harness protectors and morespecifically to locking structures for securing a cover on a wireharness protector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wire harnesses used in vehicle electrical systems are often shieldedfrom contaminants such as water and dirt by protectors at selectedpositions along their lengths. Protectors are also used in locationswhere a wire harness might be subject to wear. Protectors may also serveas wire harness guides or to secure a harness to a vehicle body panel.

A typical prior art wire harness protector is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.The protector comprises a base or trough 1 with front and back walls anda cover 2 connected to the back wall by a living hinge 3. Locking armsor tabs 4 extend downwardly from the front edge of cover 2. Each tab 4typically has a beveled end 5 with a locking step 6. The front wall ofthe trough includes sockets 7 for receiving tabs 4. As cover 2 closes(shown in FIG. 2 in solid lines), locking tabs 4 must be flexed (phantomlines) to align them for simultaneous axial insertion into sockets 7.Tip 11 and beveled end 5 of each locking tab 4 briefly engage beads 8 toforce angled steps 10 in sockets 7 outwardly while passing through theopen lower end 9 of each socket, until steps 10 snap back into place onlocking steps 6.

To open the wire harness protector of FIGS. 1 and 2, tabs 4 must besimultaneously pushed in toward the trough until locking steps 6 clearangled steps 10.

A disadvantage of the wire harness protector of FIGS. 1 and 2 is therequirement that tabs 4 be simultaneously operated to open and close thecover.

FIG. 3 illustrates another prior art wire harness protector having atrough 1 and a cover 2, formed as separate components. In thisillustration, locking tabs 4 and sockets 7 are located on both the frontand back walls of the trough. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, all tabs and socketsmust be simultaneously operated and aligned before the cover can beclosed, or opened. While locking tab alignment may be easier in closingthe cover on the trough, the quality of alignment is dependent on thequality of the molding of the separate cover. Additionally,manufacturing the cover separately increases tooling and productioncosts and requires manual matching and dual stock keeping for thematched covers and troughs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved locking arrangement especially fora hinged-type wire harness protector cover, in which the locking tabs onthe cover are automatically aligned with their respective sockets on thetrough and can be locked and released independently.

In general, the invention is achieved by providing the wire harnessprotector cover with a plurality of locking tabs on its front edge,which tabs extend parallel to the cover and which are attached to thecover by living hinges. After the cover has been moved to its own closedposition on the trough, each of the hinged locking tabs can beindependently rotated to its own locking position in a socket on thetrough. Rather than an axial insertion motion as required by the priorart, the locking tabs of the present invention engage the sockets in alateral, face-on fashion as they are bent down on their hinges.

A further feature of the invention is a complementary alignmentrelationship between the sockets on the trough and guide blocks providedon the cover in association with each of the locking tabs.

A further feature of the invention is a pair of alignment ribs formed onthe inside surface of the cover to help align and maintain the cover inthe closed position, so that each locking tab can be independentlyrotated to its own closed position with a single finger without havingto coordinate the locking tab operation with the cover-closingoperation.

This invention, together with other objects, features, aspects andadvantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art wire harness protector;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the prior art wire harnessprotector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perpective view of a second type of prior art wire harnessprotector;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wire harness protector according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the wire harness protectoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a socket as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the socket of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the socket of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view of the underside of a cover-mounted locking tab asshown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the locking tab of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view of the top surface of the locking tab of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a view of the lower edge of the male locking tab of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A wire harness protector 10 according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 through 12. Referring firstto FIGS. 4 and 5, the protector is preferably molded from a suitableplastic known to those skilled in the art. The protector generallycomprises a base or trough 12; front wall 16 and rear wall 20, with topfront edge 18 and top rear edge 22, respectively; a bottom 24; and ahinged cover 14 having an interior surface 36 and front and rear edges13 and 15. The ends 26 of trough 12 are open to receive a wire harnessand may include mounting tabs 28 for securing a wire harness by taping.An opening 30 may be provided for branch wire harness take-out.

Cover 14 is preferably molded integrally with trough 12 and attached torear trough wall 20 by a living hinge 34. Two longitudinal alignmentribs 38 are formed on interior cover surface 36 to align cover 14 withthe front and rear walls of trough 12 as the cover is closed (see FIG.5). Ribs 38 can also be spaced and shaped to create a friction fit withtrough 12 to hold cover 14 closed until the locking tabs are engaged.

As shown generally in FIG. 4 and in detail in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, thefront wall of trough 12 includes female sockets 40 each defined by apair of L-shaped legs 57. Beveled short faces 46 on the ends ofhorizonal short leg portions 42 face each other and are separated by afirst gap 48. Beveled long faces 50 on the sides of vertical long legportions 44 face each other and are separated by a larger, second gap51. A retaining ridge 56 protrudes from the lower end of each face 50. Astep 49 is generally perpendicular to beveled faces 46 and 50.

As shown generally in FIG. 4 and in detail in FIGS. 9, 10, 11, and 12,cover 14 includes locking tabs 58 formed integrally with front edge 13and connected thereto by independent living hinges 60. In the unlockedposition, locking tabs 58 are generally parallel to cover 14. Eachlocking tab 58 generally comprises an essentially rectangular blockhaving a top or push surface 66, a bottom surface 62, short sides 70, along side 72 opposite living hinge 60, and shoulders 74. Beveled edges64 and 65 meet to form a tab ridge 63 along short sides 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, pairs of guide blocks 80 are formed on the cover insurrounding association with the locking tabs 58. Guide blocks 80 serveto align the cover longitudinally on the trough due to their interferingfit with the outer edges of the sockets 40 in the cover's trough-closedposition.

Referring now to FIG. 5, cover 14 is shown being closed on trough 12,pivoting on hinge 34 from the open position (phantom lines) to theclosed position (solid lines). Alignment ribs 38 maintain fore and aftalignment of the cover on the trough. Once the cover is closed, lockingtabs 58 are automatically aligned for independent, one-finger closure.

Using only a single finger, each locking tab can be locked to acorresponding socket on the trough by bending the locking tab down onits living hinge 60. This tab-closing motion is rotational and lateralor "face-on" with respect to the open-faced sockets on the trough,rather than an axial insertion as with the prior art. As each lockingtab 58 is pressed into its associated socket 40, the above-describedbeveled surfaces of the L-shaped socket legs and the edges of thelocking tabs are forced against one another in an interference fit,causing the plastic tabs and sockets to flex sufficiently that thelocking tabs make a face-on snap fit with sockets 40. In particular,locking tab ridge 63 and locking tab shoulders 74 snap under retainingridge 56 on the socket in a locked position from which the tab can bereleased only by an intentional outward pressure to pop the tab back outof the socket. The locking tabs cannot be pulled up axially from thesockets due to the withdrawal-preventing interference between tabshoulders 74 and socket steps 49.

In this fashion the locking tabs 58 can be individually andindependently closed, eliminating the need to manually align ormanipulate all the tabs simultaneously prior to closing.

To unlock the cover, each locking tab cab be individually andindependently unlocked with an upward and outward prying motion exertedon the lower long edge 72 of each tab 58 until the tab pops out of itssocket. This operation can be accomplished one tab at a time, muchsimpler than with previous protectors where every tab must besimultaneously manipulated and freed.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, a second embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. Instead of two guide blocks bracketing eachlocking tab 58, a single guide block 80 extends perpendicularly downfrom cover 14 in alignment with each locking tab. Single blocks 80interrupt the continuity of front edge alignment rib 38, located forwardof the rib on the inside surface of the cover. Sockets 40 in thisembodiment are provided with a rectangular alignment shelf 90 defined byside and back walls 91 and 92. Shelf 90 extends into the interior of thetrough, inwardly from front wall 16.

In operation, as cover 14 is closed over trough 12 and alignment ribs 38align the cover fore and aft on the trough, guide blocks 80 align thecover and locking tabs 58 longitudinally relative to the trough, due toa side-to-side motion-preventing fit with side walls 91. Offset singleguide blocks 80 also help align the cover fore and aft in conjunctionwith ribs 38 by engaging back walls 92 of the alignment shelves 90opposite front edge rib 38.

The closing and opening operations for the locking tabs 58 in FIGS. 13and 14 are otherwise the same as for FIGS. 4-12.

Since minor changes and modifications varied to fit particular operatingrequirements and environments will be understood by those skilled in theart, this invention is not considered limited to the specific exampleschosen for purposes of illustration. The invention is meant to includeall changes and modifications which do not constitute a departure fromthe true spirit and scope of this invention as claimed in the followingclaims and as represented by reasonable equivalents to the claimedelements. Accordingly.

I claim:
 1. A wire harness protector comprising:a trough having a frontwall and a rear wall the front wall having at least one locking tabsocket formed on an outside face thereof, the socket comprising alateral tab-receiving opening; and a cover having a front edge and arear edge, the rear edge of the cover attached to the rear wall of thetrough by a hinge and adapted to be hinged to a closed position coveringthe trough; and a locking tab connected to the front edge of the coverby a living hinge, the locking tab extending from the cover on theliving hinge generally perpendicular to the front wall of the troughwhen the cover is in the trough closed position, the locking tab beingpositioned, on the cover in alignment with the socket, the locking tabbeing movable about its living hinge into the lateral tab-receivingopening in the socket to a locked position, the locking tab and socketfurther including mating surfaces which lock the tab into the socket inthe locked position, wherein the socket further includes an alignmentshelf spaced laterally inward from the socket, the alignment shelfhaving an upwardly facing opening adapted to axially receive a guideblock, and the cover including a guide block extending downwardly froman inside surface of the cover adjacent to and in alignment with thelocking tab such that the guide block engages the alignment shelf whenthe cover is moved to the trough closed position.
 2. A wire harnessprotector comprising:a trough having front, rear and bottom walls, thefront wall having at least one locking tab socket formed on an outsideface thereof, the socket comprising a lateral tab-receiving opening; acover having a front edge and a rear edge, the rear edge of the coverbeing connected to the rear edge of the trough by a living hingeopposite the socket on the front wall of the trough, the cover adaptedto be moved on its living hinge to a trough closed position, the coverfurther including a locking tab connected to the front edge of the coverin alignment with the socket in the trough closed position, the lockingtab connected to the cover by a tab living hinge extending generallyperpendicular to the front wall of the trough in the trough closedposition, the locking tab being adapted to be moved in a downwardrotational movement on its tab living hinge into the lateraltab-receiving opening in the socket to a locked position in the socket,wherein the locking tab socket comprises a pair of spaced generallyL-shaped legs extending from the outside surface of the front wall ofthe trough.
 3. A wire harness protector comprising:a trough havingfront, rear and bottom walls, the front wall having at least one lockingtab socket formed on an outside face thereof, the socket comprising alateral tab-receiving opening; a cover having a front edge and a rearedge, the rear edge of the cover being connected to the rear edge of thetrough by a living hinge opposite the socket on the front wall of thetrough, the cover adapted to be moved on its living hinge to a troughclosed position, the cover further including a locking tab connected tothe front edge of the cover in alignment with the socket in the troughclosed position, the locking tab connected to the cover by a tab livinghinge extending generally perpendicular to the front wall of the troughin the trough closed position, the locking tab being adapted to be movedin a downward rotational movement on its tab living hinge into thelateral tab-receiving opening in the socket to a locked position in thesocket, further including at least one guide block associated with eachlocking tab on the cover, the guide block extending downwardly from thefront edge of the cover so as to mate axially with a portion of thesocket associated with the locking tab when the cover is moved to thetrough closed position, wherein each locking tab is provided with oneguide block aligned with the locking tab, wherein the socket includes anupwardly-opening alignment shelf located inwardly relative to the frontof the trough.